Dalton State College

School of Education

Dalton State College was founded in 1963 as Dalton Junior College and began offering bachelor’s degrees in 1998. The US News and World Report ranks the college among regional universities –south, but the ranking is not published. The school of education builds all of its programs upon the premise that “all school-aged children can learn.” The school focuses on building “communities of learners,” using the “Constructivist Learning Theory” which offers real-world tasks rather than abstractionist instruction. Classes are collaborative.

Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education

The goal of this degree program is to prepare candidates to become certified to teach PK through fifth grade. The first two years of the program are spent in completing the common core liberal arts education of the university in five sections “A through E.” The first section is the essential skills, the second, institutional options, the third is humanities and fine arts, the fourth is science, math and technology competencies and the fifth consists of preparatory major-related courses. Following the core requirements students apply to the school of education and begin professional studies. This program contains 124-128 credit hours, including thirty hours of practicum field experiences and student teaching.

Accreditations

• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement

• National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education ( NCATE)

Gainesville State College

College of Education

Gainesville State College was founded in 1976. In 2012, however, it merged with North Georgia College. The school is now known as North Georgia College and State University or simply, North Georgia State University. The US News ranking for the university is #72 of regional universities-south. The school recently opened a campus in the Appalachians and inaugurated the Appalachian Studies Center. The college of education centers on a constructivist theory of education that focuses on real world learning rather than abstract concepts. A new component of the College of Education structure is a dedication to service and advocacy to improve the lives of the people served by the teachers prepared through the school.

Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education (P-5)

This accredited Georgia early childhood education program is offered part-time in the evening, and gives graduates a bachelor’s degree and endorsements for ESOL as well as Special Education. It begins with 60 credit hours of general education core requisites in the “A-E” format similar to other schools in the Georgia University System. Following that students embark upon their professional studies. The program contains 122 hours including courses such as Children Literature and Reading and Assessing Literacy in Early Childhood Education. There are also practicum, or field, experiences prior to student teaching. The goals for students earning the degree are in gaining a U.S. perspective, a global perspective and in gaining critical thinking skills.

Bachelor of Science, Teacher Certification

This dual major program begins with 60 credit hours of core requisites followed by 67 hours of professional studies. Examples of courses in the program include Child Development, Classroom Organization and Management and Strategies for Supporting Children From Diverse Communities. There are also required field experiences and student teaching.

Georgia College and State University

John H. Lounsbury College of Education

This university is Georgia’s designated Liberal Arts University. Its ranking is #28 of regional universities-south. The school has an undergraduate population of 6,038. The education college has been recognized both on state and national levels for its early childhood education and special education undergraduate programs. Teacher.org ranks the early childhood program as #4 and the special education program as #19. The school focuses on field-based cohort-style learning.

Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education

One of the learning outcomes stated by the college for this Georgia early childhood education program is that graduates will be able to “address the human relations and diversity issues of the public schools.” The program builds upon child development, community relationships, curriculum development and assessments. Following the mandated liberal arts core, consisting of 42 hours, students take a unit of pre-professional courses to prepare them for the courses in their major. There are 18 credits in this section and then 36 hours in the major. There is a required 21 hour capstone and 12 hours of additional coursework, for a total of 129 credit-hours.

Master of Education in Early Childhood Education

This degree program is recognized by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. It is intended for those who are already teaching but who want to advance their standing. The cohort-model classes begin in summer and focus on school improvement. Graduates of the 36 hour program will receive certification which will improve their professional level. The program must be completed in six years from beginning.

Georgia Gwinnett College

School of Education

Gwinnett is a four-year public college that was founded in 2005. It is ranked among regional colleges-south as #52. The student-to-faculty ratio is 18:1, but the school of education classes are small. The school attempts to deliver integrated instruction and focuses on faculty development. They do not offer tenure, which spurs instructors to strive for excellence to maintain standing. The school of education boasts “data-based decision-making” which allows students to evaluate their proficiency and “field-based courses” that enable them to practice in diverse types of schools and student populations.

Bachelor of Science in Education, Early Childhood Education

Following 42 credit hours of the core requisites in this accredited early childhood education degree program in Georgia, students take 18 credit hours of preparatory courses that relate to their majors, including diversity and integrated classes. There is an additional Physical education requirement of three credit hours. Then students complete 60 hours in their major through the areas of literacy education, mathematics content, foundations curriculum and methods, leadership and then clinical experience.

Georgia Southern University

College of Education

Georgia Southern University, with an undergraduate student population of 17,963, was founded in 1908 as the First District A&M. In 1924, it became a two-year school and in 1970 Georgia Southern became a university. The school is ranked in the second tier of national universities. The College of Education states that they strive to prepare teachers who are good leaders, can teach and who are examples of lifelong learning. The school is divided into three units: Curriculum, Foundations and Reading; Leadership, Technology and Human Development and Teaching and Learning.

Bachelor of Science in Education, Early Childhood Education

This degree is offered in two tracks. Single Certification is the beginning teacher certification preschool through fifth grade program. The Dual-Certification culminates in a regular initial teaching degree for preschool through fifth grade in a regular classroom as well as in a special education environment. Both tracks feature courses in the major and in teaching methodology. There are also courses in professional education. Students will have many opportunities for field experiences before reaching student teaching requirements. As in most education programs in this university system, the early education degree program, the learning outcomes include mastery of content, ability to plan and organize, mastery of teaching methodology and the ability to assess student learning and teaching effectiveness. The BS In Education, Early Childhood Education contains 135 credit hours.

Master of Arts in Teaching in Early Childhood Education

This degree is for students who have a bachelor’s degree but who do not hold teacher certification, or for those whose teacher certification is non-renewable. It leads both to a master’s degree and teacher certification. The number of hours depends upon how many courses required for this the student has completed in his undergraduate program. All pre-requisite courses must be completed as a non-degree student before a student is admitted into this program. It includes a student teaching or an internship component. In 2017, the degree program will be completely online. After completing this degree program and passing the GACE exam, candidates will be qualified for teacher certification in Georgia.

Master of Education in Early Childhood Education

This accredited early childhood education degree program is completely online and can be completed in one year. It is intended for candidates who are already teaching, and who hold a level four certification, but who want to raise their certification level. The program results in a certification upgrade in P-5 education. Some of the courses included are Learning Theories and Application, Cultural Issues and Educational Research. The degree path contains 27 credit hours.

ED.S. in Early Childhood Education

The Education Specialist degree is intended to support teachers with master’s degrees who want to go beyond the graduate level. This program is delivered completely online and contains 33 semester hours. Candidates will cooperate with professionals in other disciplines, develop leadership skills, apply their knowledge of content and their teaching skills by studying curriculum and engaging in research and develop technology skills. The degree path is intensive in research and in field studies. It leads to professional level upgrade and coinciding salary increase.

Accreditation

• The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

• NCATE

• Georgia Professional Standards Association

• Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs

Georgia Southwestern State University

School of Education

This university began in 1906 as the Third Agricultural and Mechanical School. In 1926 the name of the school; was changed to Third District Agricultural and Normal School as teaching classes were added. In 1932, the school became a university. Georgia Southwestern State University is ran ked by the US News and World rep [ort in the second tier of regional universities-south. The mission of the School of Education is to “develop leaders in education who have the essential knowledge, skills, and dispositions to make skilled, reflective decisions and who view grade P-12 student learning as the focus of their work.” The school recently conducted a study on what qualifications school superintendents deem necessary for school success and has produced a video entitled “Teaching the Teacher.”

Bachelor of Science in Education, Early Childhood Education

Students in this accredited early childhood degree, B.S.Ed. Early Childhood Education, complete 60 credit hours of required general education courses in the first two years of the degree path. Then they can apply to the school of education for admittance. There are 62 hours of professional education courses in the second half of the program, as well as concentration courses. Each candidate must complete concentrations in math (nine hours) and in reading (12 hours). In addition, there are required courses in teaching early childhood physical education, in using technology and in teaching the exceptional student. There are 12 hours of student teaching in the program.

Teaching young children presents a challenge in meeting not only developmental needs and milestones, but also in teaching special needs and exceptional students. Technology has come to play a great part in providing curriculum and additional resources to teachers, but the use of technology requires training. This listing of accredited early childhood degree programs will be valuable tool in the hands of someone who is seeking such teaching in the state of Georgia.